Bracelet



March 20, 1928.

C. HQECKELE BRACELET Filed Feb. 21. 1927 r; IINVENTOR. v

for/(9 Patented "Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES frsrlzlvr OFFICE.

CARL HOECKELE, OF NEAVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NEW JERSEY CHAIN COR- PORATION, OF NEWARK, JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BRACELET.

Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,898.

This invention relates to animprovement in the construction of bracelet chains formed of a plurality of box links connected together by frame-shaped links 5 and the object of the invention is to provide a frame-shaped link which may be easily assembled with the boxshaped links. to connect them together. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide a generally rectangular frame-shaped link formed of separate members which are cut out from sheet stock with recesses in one of the members to receive portions of the other member in the recesses.

' A still further object of theinvention is to provide notches adjacent the free ends of a U-shaped member to receive the end portions of a crossbar member to complete a gener-,

ally rectangularly-shaped frame link, the separate members being interlocked by lateral sliding of the same into interengagement and the portions being so shaped as to resist detachment by longitudinal strains on the bracelet.

: lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointedinthe ap pended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of several box links-connected together by frame links ofmy improved construction.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box link in open position. s

Figure 3 is a perspectiveview of one of the members of the connecting frame link.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the other member of the frame link.

Figure 5' is a perspective View of a box link with parts broken away showing the frame link as partially inserted into the box link through openings in one of the end walls thereof. 4

Figure 6 is a perspective view with one of the walls of the box broken away showing the frame link mounted therein.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of two of the box links connected together by the frame link and the lip of one of the end walls as foldedover the bottom wall.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of two box links connected together by a frame link with portions of an end frame link broken I away. I p V Figure 9 1s a central sectlonal s de view of two of the boxesconnected by a frame link.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of the frame link with the members separated.

It is found in practice in assembling box links and frame-shaped links, of advantage to provide a frame-shaped link having one part which may be inserted through openingsin the end wall of a box link, a spring positioned in place and the frame link completed bythe slipping into place of a cross bar member thereof, and in order to accomplish this result in a simple and practical manner, I have cut from sheetystock a U- shaped member havingarms which are of a size to be inserted through openings in one of the end (walls of the box link with notches in the free ends of the arms to receive a cross bar against which a spring mayiabutto permit of yielding extension of theframe and box links when assembled and thefollowing is a detailed descriptionof the present embodiment of the invention and showing one construction by which these advantageous results maybe accomplished lVith reference to the drawings, 10 designates a box link which is blanked from sheet stock and folded to provide a top wall 11, bottom wall 12, side walls 13 and end walls i1 1 and 15. The cnd wall 14- is provided with spaced openings 16through which the side arms 17 of the ,Ushaped member 18 may be inserted, as illustrated in Figure 4, after whlch a springl9 is positioned with one end abutting the/end wall 14 and compressed sufiicientlyso that the cross-bar member 20 may be inserted into notches 21 adjacent the free ends 22 of the arms 17 of the U-shaped inember 18 to form an abutment for the opwall 12 to complete the box link and prevent the detachment of the frame link therefrom.

When the bracelet is in extended position and the frame link is drawn out of the box link the bottom Wall 12 may be depressed sufiiciently' to permit of the narrow bridge portion 24 of the frame link to be detached from the end wall over the lip 25 to perlilllt of disengagement of the box link there- In some instances, it is desirable to in crease the extension of each link unit and to accomplish this I have positioned the cross bar member of the frame link at the extreme end of the -U-shaped arms by providing a V-shaped notch 26 in the side arms 27, as illustrated in Figure 10, and positioned therein the cross-bar member 28 with the ends 29 of a shape to fit in these V- shaped notches whereby the cross bar 28 is brought to the extreme ends of the frameshaped link to extend the opening 30 therein to permit of increased expansion of the frame relative to its box link.

It will be understood that the frame link is assembled in its box link by positioning its arms through the opening 16' and then assembling the spring and cross-bar member 20 therein. The cross-bar member, which fits loosely into these notches 21 in the ends of the arm of the U-shaped member of the frame, is held in position by the folding of the bottom wall 12 into position, as illustrated in, Figure 9, whereby disengagement of the members is prevented. I

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but Ii, desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A generally rectangularly-shaped connecting link for a flexible bracelet comprising a U-shaped member, a separate member extending between the ends of the arms thereof to complete the rectangular shape thereof, formations on said members consisting respectively of laterally extending recesses in one member and, with portions of the other member of a size to be laterally slidable therein'to and two prevent longitudinal separation of the two members.

2. A generally rectangularly-shaped connecting link for a flexible bracelet, comprising a Ushapedmember with laterally extending notches in its side arms adjacent their free ends and a separate cross bar having portions of a size to be laterally slidable into said notches and extending between said ends.

3. An expandible bracelet comprising a series of box links, open frame-shaped links connecting said box links and slidable in one of the boxes, said frame comprising a sheet metal 'U-shaped part with laterally extending notches adj acentits free ends, and a separate bar laterally slidable into said notches to complete the frame to serve to prevent longitudinal detachment of the parts.

l. An expandible bracelet comprising a series of box links having top and bottom walls, a frame link connecting said box links and slidable between said walls, said frame comprising a pair of separate members, cooperating means 'on said members to interlock to prevent'separation longitudinally of the bracelet, said interlocking means being prevented from lateral sepa- Eation by the top and bottom walls of said An expandible bracelet comprising a series of box links, each having top, bottom, side and endwalls with spaced openings in one end wall, a frame link having a U- shaped member with arms in the box link of a size to be in'sertable and slidable through said openings, a separate member, extending between the free ends of the arms, means for interlocking said members to prevent longitudinal displacement but permit lateral displacement,a nd aspring acting between said end wall having openings and said separate member and tending to move said links to contracted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CARL I-IOECKELE. 

